ALLOCATING Perth's Subiaco Oval the Wallabies' opening match in the 2008 Tri Nations tournament against the Springboks was a no-brainer from a marketing perspective for the ARU. But from a must-win rugby perspective, the decision probably makes more dollars than sense.
The first two Tests at Perth between the Wallabies and the Springboks resulted in a 14-13 win for the Springboks in 1998 and a 14-14 draw in 2001. They were more like home Tests than away matches for the visitors. On the morning of the first Test, for instance, I wandered down to a local ground and watched a rugby game between two teams of primary school kids. One of the teams was from South Africa. Most of the spectators at that game - and later that night for the Test, it seemed to me - had distinct South African accents and were barracking for their boys.
My guess is that on Saturday night the Springboks will not feel they are playing in enemy territory. The support from their South African expats should make them feel more at home than, say, a Wallabies side playing at Ellis Park in Johannesburg (the venue for the Wallabies' fifth 2008 Tri Nations Test).
Aside from the marketing dollars, the only other plus that comes to mind for playing in Perth is that it is a tiring journey from Dunedin. The Springboks, moreover, are facing their third Test in successive weeks on Saturday night. The Wallabies may be lucky enough to face a weary and bruised side that has lost its two best hookers to boot.
The use of the qualifier "may be" is justified because the Springboks will be energised, or should be, by their tremendous victory in Dunedin. In 104 years in that cold, bleak city the All Blacks have played 38 Tests, and lost only four (which includes Saturday night).
The victory at Dunedin, which was clinched by Ricky Januarie's splendid solo try, has saved the 2008 Tri Nations series for the Springboks and given them momentum going into the Test in Perth. Momentum in sport can be irresistible.
There was much to admire about the way the experienced Springboks (virtually all of their Rugby World Cup-winning team was on the field) kept their nerve in the last 10 minutes of the match when they were behind 28-23 and had their captain and supreme line-out winner, Victor Matfield, in the sin bin.
Then when they had to hold on to their 30-28 lead with four minutes of play remaining, they held up Ma'a Nonu metres out from their try line, forced Daniel Carter to kick wide with one drop-goal attempt and charged down another in the last play of the Test.
The maligned new Springboks coach, Peter de Villiers, out-coached Graham Henry. The All Blacks were not able to adjust to the deep kick-offs by Butch James that fell metres from the sidelines. The Springboks' scrum held its own after being crushed the week before. Joe van Niekerk, the best runner from the back of the scrum since Zinzan Brooke, showed why he was selected ahead of such glittering talents as Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski.
The Springboks' defence, with the outside players looking for intercepts, forced the All Blacks to attack the middle of the field, where Schalk Burger smashed there runners down like a wrecking ball. Burger made 22 of the 205 tackles effected by the South Africans.
The Springboks' line-out had some new tricks and forced three turnovers. Several times inside the All Blacks' half they ran a short line-out and planted big runners outside the centres. The All Blacks stacked their line-out but could not stop Matfield winning the ball. In one instance, the Springboks should have scored out wide. On two other occasions, the All Blacks forwards walked off-side, seemingly baffled with no one to confront.
If the Wallabies defeat this rampant Springboks side in Perth, the victory will be one of the great achievements of Australian rugby.
